The Genovese Syndrome

One of my memories as a teenager was hearing about the murder of Katherine Susan Genovese at Kew Gardens in New York City. Early in the morning on March 13, 1964, she was attacked by an assailant on her way home from work. Her screams woke her neighbors, who flipped on their lights and looked down from their windows.

Someone shouted to leave the girl alone, and the assailant retreated. Stabbed and near death, the girl called for help. But no one who saw her attacked came down to help. No one immediately…